SIAN MASSEY - the Coventry referee at the centre of the Sky sexism row which led to two star presenters leaving the broadcaster - made a low-key return to action at the weekend.

Miss Massey, from Tile Hill, Coventry, ran the line at a League Two clash between Chesterfield and Aldershot in front of around 6,000 fans.

She only had one major decision to deal with – correctly ruling that a Chesterfield player had prevented the ball from crossing the line in the second half.

The 25-year-old’s return came exactly a fortnight after she ran the line during Wolves clash with Liverpool.

After the game audio footage of Sky Sports pundits Andy Gray and Coventry-born Richard Keys was leaked to a national newspaper with the pair suggesting that Miss Massey didn’t understand the offside rule.

Gray, of Warwick, and Keys, a former Whitley Abbey School pupil, have both since left Sky.

Before the game Stuart Basson, commentating on Chesterfield FC’s live online radio, joked: “Do you think we are going to come away complaining about the ref? I mean, men, what do they know about football?”

After the game fans of both sides took to message boards to praise on Miss Massey, a PE teacher at Foxford School.

On a Chesterfield FC messageboard, spire2001-Impreza said: “She did well. Just as I thought she would. Welcome back anytime Sian.”

Another, MDCCCLXVI, wrote: “As soon as we (myself and those around me) saw a lass with a pony tail we thought it might be Sian.

“Part of me hoped the crowd might’ve given her a round of applause, but then another thought the best policy was to simply allow an official to quietly go about their business. And so it transpired.”

Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth was also quick to praise her performance.

He said: ‘I thought she did her job as well as the guy on the other side of the park.

“She was professional, shook hands before and after the game and I thought she was fantastic.”

Miss Massey’s return was one of four changes made to officials nationally ahead of the weekend’s action.

Before Saturday she had been due to officiate in games at Crewe and Corby – but the prospect of intense media coverage meant she was withdrawn.

Saturday’s low-key return was witnessed by just a handful of journalists.

A spokesman for Professional Game Match Officials said they were keen to get Miss Massey back into the action as soon as possible.